The objective of the Tourism Sector Development Project for Papua New Guinea is to improve tourism services in targeted destinations. The project will leverage opportunities for tourism development in the high-potential provinces of East New Britain and... Exibir mais +The objective of the Tourism Sector Development Project for Papua New Guinea is to improve tourism services in targeted destinations. The project will leverage opportunities for tourism development in the high-potential provinces of East New Britain and Milne Bay, and target key constraints currently impeding sustainable growth of the sector in these locations. Negative impacts from tourism can arise when visitor use is greater than the environment (or community’s) ability to cope. Natural habitats can become degraded, particularly fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs and geothermal areas. Induced development can overwhelm local communities, deplete natural resources and create conflicts between resource users. Visitors can put a strain on local infrastructure and resources (water supply, energy, sewerage systems, waste management systems), which can force local populations to carry the cost, or compete with visitors for scarce resources. Increases in air, sea and land transport can add to pollution, congestion, noise and the risks to health and safety of host communities. Cultural tourism can be exploitative, encouraging commodification of cultural identity, or changing of traditional ways as craftspeople and artists ‘adapt’ to the market. Cultural clashes can occur when visitors and locals are disrespectful to each other’s cultures, which can lead to conflict, stereotyping and impacts on social wellbeing. Traditional land and resource uses can be compromised through increased visitors, and subsistence activities (such as fisheries) may compete with tourism. Impacts may be experienced by indigenous people, or vulnerable people disproportionately, compared to urban populations or dominant cultural groups in an area, as they may be less resilient to the pressures of development or be left out of decision making. Mitigation measures include: develop codes of practice or management plans for managing natural resources within their carrying capacity (limit visitor numbers, seasonal limits, training for guides and concessionaires, develop ecotourism principles; Provide discharges to land or water in a manner that does not affect human health or ecosystem function (eg. discharge septic tank effluent to land via buried irrigation, at least 100m from water bodies and at least 3m above groundwater level); enclose noisy machinery within buildings and locate as far as possible from sensitive receptors. Provide adequate ventilation and exhausts for odors. Locate facilities away from sensitive receptors; and remove oil, fuel etc. in situ before salvage and return the waste to a recycling or treatment facility. This may require the export of waste, or transport to Port Moresby.
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